Chesterton’s European Market opened to perfect weather, great merchant
attendance and crowds of hundreds during its first event of the 2013 season
this past Saturday, May 4.

A full roster of 92 merchants offered every product imaginable to visitors
and locals, who shopped beneath a cloudless sky, with live music provided by
Nashville, Tennessee singer/songwriter Mike Beach.

“It couldn’t have been a more perfect day,” said Allyson Baughman, C of C
Marketing Director. “Everyone was so happy to be outside shopping, eating
and visiting with friends and family. The market is an opportunity to
strengthen our community and set an example for how to celebrate small
businesses and craftspeople. Our local storefronts downtown are extremely
dynamic, and we’re very thankful for their cooperation during Market
season.”

Among the merchants selling their wares during this past weekend were
Chamber members Lehman’s Orchard, a newly “Environmentally Verified” fruit
farm offering fruit trees, dried nuts and berries and fruit syrups; Good to
Go by Lucrezia offering premium balsamics and oils; and fresh food merchants
TAJ Indian Cuisine; Smitty’s BBQ; and Valpo Shrimp Company. “We have more
fresh merchants this season than ever before,” Baughman added. “Chesterton
has become such a foodie town, and we love utilizing the Market to introduce
folks to new flavors.”

Many downtown storeowners take advantage of the surge in visitor traffic
during Market Saturdays. Tonya’s Patisserie and Chelle’s added additional
sidewalk signage, while the owners of Chesterton’s new nano-brewery Hunter’s
Brewing extended their hours to accommodate tourists and locals who wanted
to enjoy a pint after a morning of shopping the Market.

For more information about applying to or visiting Chesterton’s European
Market, please call the Chamber office at (219) 926-5513, visit